How VAT works for coaches

Do you charge VAT?

In your profile, we ask about VAT. If you coach as an individual, we ask whether you charge VAT on your lesson fees. If you coach through a company, we ask whether the company is VAT registered. If you answer Yes, we ask for your UK VAT number.

Whether VAT applies depends on your VAT registration and the lessons you give. Some private tuition given independently by sole traders or partners can be exempt. Being VAT registered doesn’t mean every lesson is subject to VAT.

Your answer controls how VAT is shown in volocoach. It doesn’t determine whether VAT is legally due. If you give both taxable and exempt lessons, our current setting may not cover your circumstances.

If you’re not sure, ask your accountant or read HMRC’s VAT Notice 701/30.

What your statements show

If you answer Yes, each lesson statement shows your VAT number and a calculated VAT amount.

We currently calculate this as 20/120 of what the learner paid for the lesson fee, any reschedule fee and any court fee for a court you booked. This assumes all of these amounts are subject to VAT at 20%. Some lessons or court fees may have a different VAT treatment.

For example, a £50.00 lesson fee plus an £8.00 court fee gives a total of £58.00. The VAT shown is £9.67, assuming the full amount is subject to 20% VAT.

We calculate this amount when your lesson statement is created, after the lesson is completed. Once issued, the statement isn’t automatically updated for later refunds. However, VAT may become due when the learner pays, and refunds may require VAT adjustments. The amount shown on your statement may therefore differ from the amount you need to report to HMRC.

Your VAT answer doesn’t change the price learners pay or the amount volocoach pays out to you for the lesson. It may affect how much VAT you need to account for.

Statements aren’t VAT invoices

Your statements show the lesson amounts, deductions and payout calculation. They aren’t VAT invoices. VOLOCOACH LIMITED isn’t registered for VAT.

If a VAT invoice is required for a lesson, you’re responsible for issuing it.

Your VAT responsibilities

If you’re VAT registered, you’re responsible for deciding the correct VAT treatment of your lessons, keeping VAT records and accounting to HMRC for any VAT due.

Our statements and reports can help with your records, but they don’t replace your own VAT records or any VAT invoices you need to issue.

Changing your answer

You can change your answer in your profile under VAT status.

In our current system, the change applies to lesson statements created after you save it. Statements already issued don’t update automatically.

This doesn’t change when VAT is legally due. Earlier transactions may still need correcting if your VAT registration or tax treatment changes.